Loved ones and friends who have battled cancer were remembered and honored Saturday morning in Poplar Bluff.
More than 1,000 people turned out for this year's Sarah Jarboe White United Cancer Assistance Network Walk at the Danny Bell Treatment Center.
Holding a green balloon, printed with the message of: "You are loved, you are missed, you are remembered," was Cheryl Terrell of Poplar Bluff. Attached to the balloon was a hand-written note saying: "In memory of Lester and Ruth Terrell."
"Both of my parents died of cancer," said Terrell. "My dad, Lester Terrell, died of lung cancer that metastasized to his brain.
"My mother, Ruth Terrell, died of kidney cancer that metastasized to all her organs and colon."
Terrell said both of her parents were in their 80s when the died and had lived a "really good life."
"I just know they would want me to support cancer research," said Terrell, a first-year walker.
Terrell said neither of her parents used UCAN as they had other resources, and they didn't want to take away UCAN's resources from others more in need.
"They were both real interested in medical research and helping other people," Terrell said. "They were Christians and had a servant's heart."
Terrell said her parents had friends who were diagnosed with cancer and had driven them to treatments.
"Then, they both ended up with cancer," said Terrell, whose attendance was a way "giving back."
Siblings Hannah and Diontay Cochran of Poplar Bluff have seen first hand the support UCAN gives to cancer patients, like their adoptive mother, Vickie Cochran.
"Our mom died two years ago from lung cancer that ended up spreading everywhere," Hannah Cochran said.
UCAN, she said, helped with her mother with transportation back and forth to her treatments, as well as fuel and meal cards.
As first-time walkers, Hannah Cochran said, she and her brother were walking to "really honor our mom and remember all those who have been diagnosed and have passed ... to just show support."
Shirley Bruce of Poplar Bluff described UCAN and the walk as awesome.
"I think (executive director) Melody Melloy does an awesome job," said Bruce. " ... UCAN cares so much for everybody. ... You need anything, they are there."
Although it is Bruce's first walk, "I'm not walking; I can't walk," said Bruce. "I would love to walk."
Diagnosed with lung cancer in June, Bruce said, she was there in support of Melloy and her friends.
According to Bruce, her cancer is "going away. It's really working; the (chemotherapy) treatments are working."
Bruce said her cancer started out as "over a five, now it's a two ... not even a strong two."
Bruce feels she has had it better than a lot of people do when taking the treatments.
"I get real tired and dehydrated," she said. "I get fluids and I perk back up."
Having participated in the walk for the last five years, Buzz Downing of Poplar Bluff said he does it to support those who are struggling with the disease.
The walk is about support UCAN, and people coming together for a common goal, he said.
This year's event was tough for Downing since his wife, Debbie, lost her cancer battle last year.
"I went to the cemetery and put flowers (on her grave) before I came here," Buzz Downing said. "Last year's walk was the last time my wife and a couple of her friends were together."
Downing said one of his wife's friends, who had attended last year, died six weeks after his wife.
"The three ladies, they were the three amigos" and had been friends since second grade at Twin Rivers, Downing said.
"Debbie wasn't strong enough to walk" at last year's event, but rode in her friend's side-by-side, Downing said. "Last year's walk was special; this year's is hard."
Debbie Downing battled ovarian cancer for about 4 1/2 years, said Buzz Downing, who indicated ovarian cancer is hard to detect. His wife's cancer was "stage 4 by the time doctors figured it out."
Downing said he and his family always have tried to stay positive.
"I like to think she never gave up," said Downing, who described his wife as a "real positive person.
"She could be really sick and say, 'I can't do it; I can't go on,'" then "she would be like grab my purse. She would get in there, and she would brighten the whole place up."
Lois Graham, who retired after 26 years with the Poplar Bluff School District, worked with White.
"I loved her dearly," Graham said. "She was a very good friend."
Graham said she also lost her dad several years ago to cancer and has a brother-in-law who is "dealing with cancer. So far, he's in remission."
There are others, but they are too many to mention, said Graham, who described cancer as being devastating not just to the person, but the family as well.
The walk, Graham said, is a wonderful thing "for the community to come together. I hope it lasts forever. It's just wonderful."
One of the walkers was there in support of Doug Redwine, who recently lost his cancer battle.
"We're here to support a friend (Edith Redwine) ... she wanted to come out and honor him," said the woman, who wore a T-shirt with the message "No one fights alone" and a purple ribbon bearing Doug Redwine's name.
"We told her we would come out and walk with her for a good cause," said the first-time walker.
Walking for the third time was Ray Hughes of Doniphan.
Hughes said he was attending to support "everyone else."
The walk, he said, also was a "health fair thing at work for SUSA, and it's a good walk," said Hughes, who described the work UCAN's does as fantastic.
Before opening the walk in prayer, Greg Gilberto, pastor of Northpoint Nazarene Church, told those in attendance about how cancer had touched his family.
Six years ago, Gilberto said, he got a phone call from his wife, Jackie, who found out she had cancer.
"That was one of the hardest days of my life," he said. "We went into the kitchen; we hugged each other and we cried a lot. ... Six years later, Jackie is cancer free.
"There is victory over this thing. ... There is healing in Jesus today."
The "big C word," according to Gilberto, is common, but "we're standing here in the spirit of unity and hope. There is hope in Jesus' name. There is hope in UCAN."
Gilberto said he and his wife went back and forth to St. Louis for treatments, and UCAN gave them fuel cards weekly, back when gasoline was $4 a gallon.
"I believe in UCAN, and I know you do to," he said.
Wendy Long also spoke about how UCAN has touched her life and that of her husband.
Long said she had two dear friends who received devastating diagnoses that they had terminal cancer, then her husband, Jerry Long, was diagnosed with throat/larynx cancer.
"He's here by the grace of God," said Long.
UCAN, Long said, provided fuel cards for their drives to St. Louis for treatments, which took one of their stressors off.
"We are all here today to honor the many, many sweet ones who got their final healing in heaven," those whose are fighting their battle and the "ones who've graduated, like my husband," from the disease.